"It's a testament to the unending dedication of [founding publisher] Amy Singmaster that she continued to take on such tasks as delivery and small-time sales some seven years into the paper's existence," writes editor Dan Cook. "But it also speaks to how long it actually took for Free Times to reach a solid footing." Like many AAN papers, the Columbia, S.C., alt-weekly began its life as a biweekly in 1987, and has only grown since then. In 2004, the paper was bought by Portico Publications, which also owns C-Ville Weekly and Metro Spirit. "Twenty years into its history, Free Times is stronger than it’s ever been, now publishing larger issues and more of them -- 40,000 copies -- than it ever has," Cook writes.

Continue ReadingColumbia Free Times Celebrates 20th Anniversary

Kamikaze was suspended indefinitely from the local talk radio program the Kim Wade Show this week for comments he made in a recent Jackson Free Press column, the paper reports. "Freedom of speech no longer exists in this country," Kamikaze says. "I don't know if I'm being singled out but its unfortunate that the station caved to some random callers who disagreed with my viewpoints." As a rebuttal, Kamikaze, who is also a hip-hop artist, has recorded a new song, "Take Me Away," which he calls an "open letter" to George W. Bush. It was posted on his MySpace page today.

Continue ReadingAlt-Weekly Columnist Taken Off Radio Show for Anti-Bush Comments

Managing editor Brian Johnson is due in court this morning for pre-trial motions in the criminal case against Jackson Mayor Frank Melton, according to the JFP. Johnson was issued the subpoena (PDF file) by Melton's attorneys, as was a reporter for the daily Clarion-Ledger. This is not the first time the JFP has been called to court by the embattled mayor they've relentlessly covered: Editor Donna Ladd was subpoenaed in a previous trial last year.

Continue ReadingJackson Free Press Editor Subpoenaed in Mayor’s Criminal Trial

"Being pregnant doesn't change the fact that there are issues in Jackson that I can bring to light through this newspaper," writes 19-year-old Melishia Grayson in her introductory column for the Jackson Free Press. Grayson is one of four recipients of AAN's Diversity Internship grants for the Winter/Spring 2007 cycle. The other grant recipients this cycle are Amanda Miller at Washington City Paper, Tuyet Nguyen at Westword, and Lauren Parajon at the Oklahoma Gazette. Established in 2001, the AAN Diversity Internship program awards four annual grants of up to $2,500 to talented young journalists of color.

Continue ReadingAAN Diversity Intern Uses Stereotypes as Motivation

Mayor Frank Melton of Jackson, Miss., was jailed yesterday for violating the terms of his probation that were established last fall after he pleaded guilty to three gun charges. Stories by the Jackson Free Press led directly to those gun convictions, and last month, the alt-weekly broke the news that Melton had violated his probation by breaking midnight curfew. The Jackson Free Press' coverage also led directly to five felony charges Melton faces in April for allegedly leading police officers and juvenile friends on a warrantless raid.

Continue ReadingMayor Dogged by Jackson Free Press Sent to Jail

Mediaspan, which calls itself "the leading provider of digital content management and national advertising solutions for over 4,000 local media properties," yesterday announced the addition of several new clients, including AAN members Philadelphia City Paper, Austin Chronicle, San Antonio Current, Salt Lake City Weekly, Arkansas Times and Jackson Free Press. "Our drive to deliver new, national revenue for our affiliate partners goes hand-in-hand with our goal of meeting the demands of national advertisers who want to reach a specific local audience, in markets large and small, across multiple types of media," says a Mediaspan executive. "Whether advertisers seek online display ads on newspaper websites, pre-roll video on TV websites or online radio audio streams, we can deliver."

Continue ReadingOnline Ad Firm Signs Six Alt-Weekly Clients

The federal government announced today that reputed Klansman James Ford Seale has been arrested and indicted for the 1964 murder of Charles Moore and Henry Dee, two young black hitchhikers in Meadville, Miss. Following the announcement, AAN issued a press release noting that the Dee-Moore murder case gained new steam when Free Press editor Donna Ladd (pictured) and a team of young Mississippians first reported the news that Seale was still alive -- after the local Gannett daily and other media had previously reported he was dead. Ladd's series about the murders won an investigative-reporting award in last year's AltWeekly Awards contest.

Continue ReadingJackson Free Press Reporting Revived Klansman Case